OKAYAMA – A South Korean high school student has won the top award in a Japanese-language speech contest in Okayama.

Kim Nae-yong, 17, defeated 11 other foreign contestants Friday with a speech in which she expressed her desire to “act as a bridge between South Korea and Japan.”

Kim, who was participating in a home-stay program in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, and the other finalists delivered speeches under the theme of “My Dream” for the annual contest, which was the third hosted by Kake Educational Institution.

Some of the contestants said they dreamed of becoming Japanese teachers or tour guides.

The 12 contestants hailed from eight countries, including China and Australia. After reaching the finals, they each had to deliver speeches in Japanese.